Blacklock's Reporter

Poet Shai Ben-Shalom, an Israeli-born biologist, writes for Blacklock’s each and every Sunday: “A man is stopped by the police for speeding and watching a movie. He is charged with distracted driving, licence and vehicle seized…”

A new Liberal senator billed thousands for flights, meals and other costs charged as Senate business while Parliament was in recess, records show. Authorities yesterday defended expenses billed by David Arnot of Saskatoon when the Senate was adjourned and he had not yet taken the oath of office: "He was eligible."

Canada has the worst climate record in the G7, the  federal Environment Commissioner said yesterday. “Canada was once a leader in the fight against climate change,” said Commissioner Jerry DeMarco. “However after a series of missed opportunities it has become the worst performer of all G7 nations.”

Nunavut Senator Dennis Patterson yesterday introduced a bill to repeal one of the few Confederation-era laws still on the books. Patterson described as “antiquated and elitist” a requirement that senators be landowners with at least $4,000 in paid-up equity: "Canadians should not be excluded from participating in the parliamentary process simply because they rent."

Legislators for the third time in three years will attempt to pass an aid bill for jurors traumatized by graphic testimony in criminal courts. “When we ask citizens to be a juror we don’t ask them to be a victim,” said Senator Pierre-Hugues Boisvenu (Que.), sponsor of the latest bill: "There is no excuse not to adopt that bill."

Most Canadians find the country a nice quiet place, says in-house research by the Department of Health. Staff spent $48,166 on a survey that found only eight percent of Canadians have their nightly sleep disturbed, mainly by noisy neighbours or a snoring spouse: "Do you live in an area where you have a high expectation for tranquility, peace and quiet?"

Immigration Minister Sean Fraser yesterday said he is determined to root out racism in his own department. Fraser’s remarks follow a report the department tolerated crude bigotry including managers who patted a Black employee’s hair and called Indigenous people lazy: "Are you saying there is discrimination in your department?"

The Bank of Canada has suspended without pay a conscientious objector who declined a Covid shot, then threatened to fire the employee. Joseph Hickey, a work-from-home Bank researcher who is also executive director of the Ontario Civil Liberties Association, said his suspension made no medical sense: "Your employment may ultimately be terminated if you remain non-compliant."

Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland yesterday said she will soon update figures on federal deficits, the largest in Canadian history, with "the last step" in emergency pandemic spending. It comes ahead of new Statistics Canada data on per capita debt levels: "We know how important it is to be transparent with Canadians about public finances."

A bill to ban China-made products suspected of being produced by slave labour was yesterday introduced in the Senate. “We must let the Communist regime know we are serious,” said Senator Leo Housakos (Que.), sponsor of the bill: "Canada has a moral and legal obligation."

The U.S. just six days after hosting a Biden-Trudeau summit yesterday again raised tariffs on Canadian softwood lumber. “Canadians were promised a renewed relationship,” said one MP: "Downplaying these threats and being hopeful is not a plan."

A proposed gun buy-back program at the Department of Public Safety is a mammoth undertaking prone to human error and “wasted time, energy and funds,” says an internal report obtained by the Canadian Taxpayers Federation. Costs are already up to $8.8 million though the program has not been formally launched: "The feds haven’t bought a single gun yet and costs still continue to go up."

Opposition MPs yesterday lined up 178 votes in the 338-seat Commons to reopen an investigation of why top security clearance was given Chinese scientists at a federal lab. Cabinet had gone to “unbelievable” lengths to block the probe, MPs were told: "We cannot leave things here."

Internet regulation has “nothing to do with free speech,” Heritage Minister Pablo Rodriguez yesterday told reporters. Cabinet had proposed to reintroduce first-ever legislation covering legal internet content with a bill permitting the CRTC to regulate YouTube videos: "That bill has nothing to do with free speech."

The Department of Foreign Affairs spent nearly $627,000 promoting feminism in Venezuela including the hiring of $567-a day publicists to “arrange high level media interviews” with women legislators. Managers who signed the contract yesterday would not comment.